iPhone: $30 a month data plans? What are these?

[Coldkilla]

I'm thinking about getting a new ipod and thought the $199 8GB iPhone would be nice since I need a new cell phone too. However, I'm a college student with no job and budgeting a savings (I'm willing to pay a little more to get the iPhone but its the plans I'm considering mostly). I read that there will be $30 a month "Data plans", is this a plan that is for talking on the phone? Or is this for like text messaging? I would use the phone yes, but only for about 200-300 minutes a month, so their cheapest plan I would be looking for. I don't need anything fancy like text messaging, or whatever. Or will my (cheapest) plan be around $70+ a month, even for the cheapest plan?

Phone thread, punting to the phone forum

-ViRGE

 

[minendo]

$30/month just for data. Another ~$40 or so for voice. Plan on at least $80 + tax, etc.

 

[Cattlegod]

forget ATT, get SERO

 

[Coldkilla]

What exactly is the "data"? Can I just skip that and have a $40 a month voice plan?

 

[fossilburner]

Lots of talk about it here: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2195752&enterthread=y

and here: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2195719&enterthread=y

 

[fossilburner]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
forget ATT, get SERO

:thumbsdown:

 

[TruePaige]

I wish I could just get Data, then I'd buy one, keep my SERO sprint phone for voice (at about 22 a month with my discount)

 

[Coldkilla]

Hehe just a simple yes or no would be sufficient from someone who knows.

Can I just purchase the $40 a month voice plan and skip all the fancy GPS, Internet, and other stuff, instead of reading 13-14 thread pages looking for it buried in the text.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
What exactly is the "data"? Can I just skip that and have a $40 a month voice plan?

Data is so you can use the 3g/Edge network to browse the internet/get email/use google maps and so on anywhere you have cell service.

If you don't want data, I'd recommend finding the previous iphone model (on craigslist or something) and unlock it and use it on AT&T or T-Mobile.

 

[fossilburner]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
Hehe just a simple yes or no would be sufficient from someone who knows.

Can I just purchase the $40 a month voice plan and skip all the fancy GPS, Internet, and other stuff, instead of reading 13-14 thread pages looking for it buried in the text.

negative


and stop being lazy

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
Hehe just a simple yes or no would be sufficient from someone who knows.

Can I just purchase the $40 a month voice plan and skip all the fancy GPS, Internet, and other stuff, instead of reading 13-14 thread pages looking for it buried in the text.

Especially after seeing this, definitely buy one of the previous models.

 

[Skeeedunt]

I'm not sure if there's a definitive answer from AT&T yet. I've mostly heard that the data plan is required in order to purchase the phone at the subsidized price, however with the previous model I believe many people were able to remove the data plan later without issue.

Definitely look into the previous model as well. I've seen a few used 8gb's going for $200-250 on craigslist in the days since the WWDC keynote.

 

[TruePaige]

Any idea if I can just get the data plan?

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Originally posted by: TruePaige
Any idea if I can just get the data plan?

They were allowing it with the first gen, however, who knows with the 3g. Since they are subsidizing the phone it's likely to change what you can/can't do.

 

[Pabster]

According to the leaked AT&T memo Gizmodo had, you will be required to purchase the unlimited data plan. Doesn't surprise me a bit.

 

[fatpat268]

Eh... screw that. i refuse to pay nearly the same amount for a data plan as I do for my broadband internet.

Wake me up when AT&T's data plan is $15 a month or less.

 

[fossilburner]

Originally posted by: Pabster
According to the leaked AT&T memo Gizmodo had, you will be required to purchase the unlimited data plan. Doesn't surprise me a bit.

and another fee for texting. wtf!?

 

[Gunslinger08]

I have a feeling the $30/month data plan is going to turn off a very large percentage of people.

 

[aceO07]

It's a 'cheap' phone that becomes expensive as you pay the monthly charges.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
I have a feeling the $30/month data plan is going to turn off a very large percentage of people.

Other than Sprint SERO, its about the same as most other cell phone companies smartphone data plans.

Originally posted by: Pabster
According to the leaked AT&T memo Gizmodo had, you will be required to purchase the unlimited data plan. Doesn't surprise me a bit.

While you will likely be required to purchase it, you may not be required to keep it. With most other AT&T smartphones, you can get the subsidized price as long as you keep the data plan on for 3-4 months after your service is activated. After, you can drop the data plan.

 

[StinkyMojo]

SERO.

'nuff said.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: StinkyMojo
SERO.

'nuff said.

Nothing can even come close to the price of SERO. I give them props for that. That being said, I hate Sprint and all their horrid customer service reps

Been an happy AT&T user for 5+ years now.

 

[fstime]

$30 for unlimited data + $20 for unlimited text + $59.99 for middle of the line voice plan.

 

[BHeemsoth]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
$30 for unlimited data + $20 for unlimited text + $59.99 for middle of the line voice plan.

That's ridiculous.

Sero + Q9c: $30/month - unilimted texts, data, GPS, 500 minutes, free nights/weekends.

Best deal out there.

 

[Coldkilla]

I guess I'll wait a few weeks after the new iPhone is released then start asking questions, perhaps take a drive to the nearest AT&T store and ask them then.